Emergy evaluation of an OTEC electrical power system

An energy analysis was made of a land-based OTEC system proposed for Taiwan using emergy evaluation methods (emergy spelled with an ‘m’). An emergy yield ratio of 1.4 indicates a small net contribution of electric power, but less than from forest wood, fossil fuel, and nuclear fission. Comparing the emergy fed back from the economy to that from the sea, the large investment ratio (218) suggests the system is not likely to become economical.